Such an injury is not shocking given how the fight went for Ferguson, and how his face looked when it was over (slightly NSFW there). Over the course of four and a half rounds, Gaethje delivered blow after blow to Ferguson’s face.

According to UFC, Gaethje connected on 143 significant strikes against Ferguson, with 100 landing on the head. One of the worst can be seen here:

Referee Herb Dean mercifully ended the fight during a lopsided fifth round, giving Gaethje the TKO victory and a date with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov once the UFC can set it up amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As for Ferguson, the loss will be a bitter pill to swallow given that he was lined up to face Nurmagomedov for the full belt until the champ ended up stranded in Russia. It was the fifth fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson to be called off, and it could be awhile before Ferguson gets a sixth chance.

Ferguson was taken to a medical facility in Jacksonville after the fight, per MMA Fighting, and it might be awhile before he can return to the Octagon.